washington can botch this so gtey aren't very aggressive with their hiring. ehey pulled back on their pnvestment on their advertising. wey also realize tax rates are going up next year, so what they're doing is announcing special dividends and pulling dividends forward into this year because they realize that tax rates on dividends next year will be higher. so they're trying to give their shareholders a break. >> dubois: so that's what tsinesses are doing. what are you seeing on ma n street? >> well, you know, howls holds also realize that tax rates are likely to go up, so we're seeing thlot of underwater homeowners-- homeowners that owe more on aeir home than it's worth-- itling this year because they get a tax break if they do it ohis year. next year they may not get it. we're seeing wealthy households give more to their favorite charities. 'vey're worried the charitable earsction they've been using for many years may get scaled back so they want to get that done this year. >> dubois: okay, mark zandi, thank you very much tonight. one of the brightest spots